Convertible hassock



- 1952 J. J. PAGANO CONVERTIBLE HASSOCK Filed Oct.

3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Joseph J Pagano INVENTOR.

' 9 BY k M0? Dec. 2, 1952 J PAGANQ 2,620,018

CONVERTIBLE HASSOCK Filed 001- 24, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 86 84 Fig]Joseph J Pagana INVENTOR.

Dec. 2, 1952 J. J. PAGANO 2,620,018

CONVERTIBLE HAS-$00K Filed Oct. 24, 1950 s Sheets-Sheet 3 Joseph J.Pagano INVENTOR.

Patented Dec. 2, 1952 UNITED STATES OFFICE 9 Claims.

This invention comprises novel and useful improvements in convertiblefurniture, and more particularly pertains to a hassock which may beconverted into other articles of furniture.

An important object of this invention is to provide a discerptiblehassock which includes a pair of similarly formed chair sections, whichchair sections may be used as independent units, or combined to form acompact hassock.

Another important object of this invention is to provide a discerptiblehassock which includes a pair of similarly formed chair sections, whichchair sections may be used as independent units, which units may bearranged in juxtaposed position to form a hassock, or which may bearranged with the backs of the chair sections in endwise alignment toform a table structure.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a discerptiblehassock, in accordance with the foregoing objects, which hassock has anefiicacious appearance when utilized as a hassock; as a table; or asindividual chair units, and which hassock is of sturdy and simpleconstruction.

An important feature of this invention resides in the provision of apair of similarly formed chairs which are so shaped and constructed thatthey may be arranged in a juxtaposed position to form a substantiallyrectangular hassock.

Another important feature of this invention 7 resides in the provisionof means for fastening the chairs in their hassock forming position orin their table forming position.

Still another feature of this invention resides in the provision of apair of chair sections which are adapted to form a hassock, which chairsections have foldable legs so as to provide a more compact hassock, andwhich legs, when folded, have a neat appearance.

These, together with various ancillary objects and features are attainedby this device, embodiments of which have been illustrated in theaccompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective elevational view of a preferred embodiment ofthe invention, illustrating the use of the device as an end table;

Figure 2 is a perspective elevational View of one of the chair sections;

Figure 3 is a perspective elevational View of the chair sectionsarranged to form a relatively low coffee table;

Figure 4 is a perspective elevational view showing the chairs arrangedin juxtaposed relation to form a hassock;

Figure 5 is a bottom plan view of one of the chair sections with thelegs extended;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the plane of line 66of Figure 5;

Figure 7 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the plane of line 1-1of Figure 3, and showing details of the manner of fastening the chairsections together;

Figure 8 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the plane of line 88of Figure 5;

Figure 9 is a perspective elevational view of a second embodiment inwhich the chair sections are arranged to form a hassock;

Figure 10 is a perspective elevational View of one of the chair sectionsof the embodiment shown in Figure 9;

Figure 11 is a perspective elevational view of the chair sections of thesecond embodiment arranged to form a coffee table; and

Figure 12 is a perspective elevational view of the second embodimentwith the chair sections arranged to form a hassock.

Reference is now made more specifically to the accompanying drawingswherein the numeral It! generally denotes a chair section constructed inaccordance with the objects and features of this invention so that apair of the chair sections may be arranged to form a hassock or a coffeetable, and which chair sections may be utilized as separate units in aconventional manner.

In the preferred embodiment, shown in Figures 1-8, each chair section [0includes a base plate i2 and a back plate M, disposed perpendicular toeach other, and arm rest members It secured to the back and base plates,on opposite sides thereof. As is best shown in Figure 2, the arm restforming members 16 each have an u per edge l8 which constitutes the armsupporting surface, and a forward edge 29, which forward edge is adaptedto abut the front face 22 of the side strip Ed of the other chairsection, when the chair sections it are nested to form a hassock. As isapparent, the side strips 24 extend upwardly from each of the arm restmembers It and are secured to the back plate M, the side stripsterminating substantially flush with the upper edge L t-of thebackplate.

The length of the side strips 2 5 is equal to the height of the edge is,of the arm rest members i6, above the base plate l2, the forward portion28 of the base plate extending beyond the forward edge of the arm restmembers so that when the chairs are disposed in their hassock formingposition, the upper edges of the arm rests of the chair sections abuteach other, and the forward edge of the arm rests of one section abutthe front face of the side strips of the other section,

3 the forward portion of the base plate of each chair section overlyingthe upper edge of the back plate of the other section, as is best shownin Figures 1 and 4.

The inner face of the back plate is of each chair section is padded andcovered to form a back cushion 32, the base plate I2 being similarlypadded and covered to form a seat cushion 34. However, since the sidestrips 24 project forwardly of the back cushion, and since the forwardportion 28 of the base plate extends forwardly of the seat cushion 34,which, as is shown in Figure 2, terminates adjacent the forward edges 20of the arm rest members, it will be appreciated that the cushions ofeach chair section will not interfere with the nesting of the chairsections to form a hassock.

Since it is desired to utilize the external face of the back plates asthe upper and lower faces of the hassock, one, or both of the backplates may be padded as at 36 and covered with a sheet 33, the latterbeing secured by tacks All or the like. Suitable knobs 42 extend fromthe external face of the back rest and serve to space the externalpadded face thereof from the floor. If desired, the remaining exposedareas of the chair section may be upholstered, or otherwise decorated.

A pair of base plate reinforcing strips M are secured to theundersurface of the base plate I2 transversely of the chair sections,the reinforcing strips being spaced from each other to define a legbrace receiving recess 45 therebetween. The reinforcing strips andundersurface of the base plate are suitably covered by a sheet ofmaterial 45, which is secured by fasteners 48 thereto, and leg members59 are attached to the reinforcing strips, by hinges 52, the leg membersbeing so disposed that when they are in their extended position theupper edges thereof abut the lower edges of the arm rest members It, asis best shown in Figure 3, whereby a chair section is directly supportedon the leg members. When the leg members are in their folded position,shown in Figures 1, 3 and 4, the upper edge of the leg members 58 isspaced inwardly of the edge of the base plate a distance substantiallyequal to the width of the leg members, and it is accordingly intendedthat the side edges of the leg members be spaced inwardlyof the forwardand rear edges of the base plate.

A toggle linkage brace unit 52, of conventional construction is providedto brace the leg members 50. The brace unit 52 includes first and secondpivotally connected links d and 56 which are biased into lockingposition by a tension spring 58, which spring retains the links withtheir adjacent ends in abutting engagement to rig-idly brace the legmembers, the links having mounting brackets 69 and 52 pivotally securedthereto, which brackets are respectively secured by fasteners 6G to thebase plate I2 and to one of the leg members 50. As will be appreciated,the

toggle linkage brace unit 52 may be broken by exerting a pressureadjacent the central pivot point whereby the linkage will collapse intothe recess 45 and the leg members fold into engagement with the baseplate.

A hub 66 which includes a concave annular plate 68, padded as at andcovered with sheet material 72, is secured as by straps id and fastenersI6 to the reinforcing strips 44. A spring biased ball catch 18 iscarried by hub 66 and is adapted to engage a corresponding detent 89carried by the lower edge of the leg members. As is shown in thedrawings, the leg members are provided with semi-circular recesses whichare adapted to register with the hub 66, but it is believed aparent thatrecesses in the leg members of other configurations, withcorrespondingly shaped hubs, may be resorted to, without departing fromthe spirit of this invention.

Knobs 82 are disposed centrally of the hub 65, and provide handles forthe device, the handles terminating substantially flush with the outerface of the leg members when the latter are folded so as to not impairstorage of the device on end.

It is also intended that the chair sections Ill be utilized as a coffeetable, as is shown in Figure 3, and accordingly there has been providedball headed lag screws 84 which are fastened to the upper ends of theside strips of one of the chair sections, and which screws 84 areadapted to be received in the resilient sockets 86, disposed in recesses33 in the upper ends of the othe chair section whereby the chairsections may be arranged with the back plates in axial alignment, andwith the forward portions 28 of the base plate serving as legs for thecoffee table. It is also intended that the chair section, other thanthat to which the ball headed screws 84 are secured, be provided withsimilar resilient sockets in the forward portion 28 thereof, whichsockets are adapted to receive'the screws 84 when the chair sections arenested in hassock forming position. A strap 92 is secured to theundersurface of base plate i2 of the chair section IEI to which theheaded screws 84 are attached, which strap has an eyelet 94 thereinwhich is adapted to receive a knob 98 secured to the upper portion ofthe back plate I 4 of the other chairsection. As will be appreciated,the screws 24 when disposed in the resilient sockets 9%, together withthe strap 92 which is adapted to engage the knob 96, secure the chairsections I?) in their hassock forming position.

Since the leg members 50, when in their folded position and the hub 66with the knob 82 form a substantially fiat surface, the chair sectionsI0, when nested as shown in Figure 1, may be disposed in an uprightposition, with the legs of the lower chair section extended, to therebyprovide an end table or the like.

The second embodiment of the invention shown in Figures 9-12 alsoincludes a pair of similarly formed chair sections I0, each of whichchair sections are L-shaped in cross section and which include a baseportion I00 and a back rest portion I02.

The base portion is substantially rectangular and includes a bottom wallI04, a top seat forming wall IIJB, front and rear walls I08 and H0respectively, and side walls H2. The back rest portion includes a backwall H4 disposed coplanar with the back wall [I0 of the base portion, afront wall IIB, side walls I I8 and a top wall I220. The length of theback rest portion I02 is equal to the height of the base portion I 06 sothat when the chair sections are disposed in the nested arrangementshown in Figures 9 and 12, they form a substantially rectan gular block.It is contemplated that the chair sections be suitably upholstered andpadded so as to provide both comfortable chair units and a comfort-ablehassock.

Straps I22, each have one end thereof secured to the top wall I20 of theback rest portion of each of the chair sections, the straps beingotherwise detachably secured to knobs I24 carried by the bottom wall ofthe base portion of each chair section to thereby detachably secure thechair sections in their h'assock forming position.

It is also contemplated that the chair sections be disposed, as inFigure 11, with the back portions thereof in axial alignment, to providea relatively low coffee table. As will be appreciated, the base portionsH of each of the chair sections may be weighted to support the back restportions in cantilever fashion, thereby eliminating the necessity of anyfasteners to secure the chairs in their coffee table forming position.

Having described the claimed as new is:

1. A convertible hassock comprising :a pair of symmetrical L-shapedchair sections each including first and second relatively perpendicularlegs and a pair of reinforcing members secured to opposite sides of thefirst and second legs of each chair section, said reinforcing memberseach having the upper edges thereof disposed intermediate the ends ofsaid first legs whereby said upper edges of said reinforcing membersconstitute arm rests, said sections being adapted to be disposed withthe upper edges of the reinforcing members in abutting engagement andwith the first leg of each section overlying the forward edge of saidreinforcing members of the other section thereby providing asubstantially rectangular hassock, the forward portion of the second legof each section overlying the upper edge of the first leg of the othersection when said sections are in their hassock forming position.

2. A convertible hass'ock comprising a pair of symmetrical L-shapedchair sections each including first and second relatively perpendicularlegs and a pair of reinforcing members secured to opposite sides of thefirst and second legs of each chair section, said reinforcing memberseach having the upper edges thereof disposed intermediate the ends ofsaid first legs whereby said upper edges of said reinforcing membersconstitute arm rests, said sections being adapted to be disposed withthe upper edges of the reinforcing members in abutting engagement andwith the first leg of each section overinvention, what lying the forwardedge of said reinforcing members of the other section thereby providinga substantially rectangular hassock, the forward portion of the secondleg of each section overlying the upper edge of the first leg of theother section when said sections are in their h'assock forming position,cooperating means carried by the upper end of the first leg of onesection and the forward portion of the second leg of the other sectionfor detachably securing said sections to gether.

3. A convertible hassock comprising a pair of symmetrical L-shaped chairsections each including first and second relatively perpendicular legsand a pair of reinforcing members secured to opposite sides of the firstand second legs of each chair section, said reinforcing members eachhaving the upper edges thereof disposed intermediate the ends of saidfirst legs whereby said upper edges of said reinforcing membersconstitute arm rests, said sections being adapted to be disposed withthe upper edges of the reinforcing members in abutting engagement andwith the first leg of each section overlying the forward edge of saidreinforcing members of the other section thereby providing asubstantially rectangular hassock, the forward portion of the second legof each section overlying the upper edge of the first leg of the othersection when said sections are in their hassock forming position,fastener means carried by the upper edge of the first leg of one sectionand cooperating fastener means carried by the upper edge of the firstleg of the other section for detachably securing said sections together.

4. A convertible hassock comprising a pair of symmetrical L-shaped chairsections each including first and second relatively perpendicular legsand a pair of reinforcing member secured to opposite sides of the firstand second legs of each chair section, said reinforcing members eachhaving the upper edges thereof disposed intermediate the ends of saidfirst legs whereby said upper edges of said reinforcing membersconstitute arm rests, said sections being adapted to be disposed withthe upper edges of the reinforcing members in abutting engagement andwith the first leg of each section overlying the forward edge of saidreinforcing members of the other section thereby providing asubstantially rectangular hassock, the forward portion of the second legof each section overlying the upper edge of the first leg of the othersection when said sections are in their hassock forming position, legshingedly attached to the outer face of said second leg of each of saidsections, and means for supporting said legs in their extended position.

5. The combination of claim 4 wherein the second leg of each section hasa recess in the undersurface thereof for the reception of said legsupporting means when the legs are in their folded position.

6. In a convertible hassock comprising a pair of symmetrical L-shapedchairs, each of said chairs including a base and a back rest disposedperpendicularly to said base, said chairs being disposed with thecorresponding inner faces of the bases facing each other and with theback rest of each chair overlying the front wall of the base of theother chair; the improvement comprising arm rests mounted on the chairbases, the upper edge of each arm rest disposed intermediate the ends ofthe back rest, a base extension extending beyond the arm rests wherebythe top wall of the back rest of one chair will abut the base extensionof the other chair.

7. In a convertible hassock comprising a pair of symmetrical L-shapedchairs, each of said chairs including a base and a back rest disposedperpendicularly to said base, said chairs being disposed with thecorresponding inner faces of the bases facing each other and with theback rest of each chair overlying the front wall of the base of theother chair; the improvement comprising arm rests mounted on the chairbases, the upper edge of each arm rest disposed intermediate the ends ofthe back rest, a base extension extending beyond the arm rest wherebythe top wall of the back rest of one chair will abut the base extensionof the other chair, fastener means carried by the base extension of eachchair and cooperating fastening means carried by the upper portion ofthe back rest of each chair.

8. In a convertible hassock comprising a pair of symmetrical L-shapedchairs, each of said chairs including a base and a back rest disposedperpendicularly to said base, said chairs being disposed with thecorresponding inner faces of the bases facing each other and with theback rest of each chair overlying the front wall of the base of theother chair; the improvement comprising arm rests mounted on the chairbases, the upper edge of each arm rest disposed intermediate the ends ofthe back rest, a, base extension extending beyond the arm rests wherebythe top wall of the back rest of one chair will abut the base extensionof the other chair, legs hingedly attached to the base portion of eachchair.

9 In a convertible hassock comprising a pair of symmetrical L-shapedchairs, each of said chairs including a base and a back rest disposedperpendicularly to said base, said chairs being disposed with thecorresponding inner faces of the bases facing each other and with theback rest of each chair overlying the front wall of the base of theother chair; the improvement comprising arm rests mounted on the chairbases, the

upper edge of each arm rest disposed intermedi- 20 ate the ends of theback rest, a base extension extending beyond the arm rests whereby thetop 8 wall of the back rest of one chair will abut the base extension ofthe other chair, fastener means carried by the base extension of eachchair and cooperating fastening means carried by the upper portion ofthe back rest of each chair, legs hingedly attached to the base portionof each chair.

JOSEPH J. PAGANO.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,660,119 Decker Feb. 21, 19282,108,241 Wallace Feb. 15, 1938 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date454,014 Great Britain Sept. 21, 1936

